Cheesy Protein Pasta Recipe
This Cheesy Protein Pasta is a nutritious and delicious meal that combines protein-enriched pasta with a creamy cottage cheese sauce, enhanced by fresh spinach and parmesan. It’s a wholesome dish perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, offering a balanced blend of protein and greens with a satisfying cheesy flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 12 ounces protein pasta
- 16 ounces low-fat cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup skim milk
- 1/3 cup parmesan
- 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic (or 2 garlic cloves, minced)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 cups chopped spinach
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the protein pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, combine the low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, parmesan, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Stir gently to combine and warm through, but do not let it boil.
- Add Spinach: Stir in the chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes, allowing the spinach to soften into the sauce.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the cottage cheese sauce and spinach. Pour in the reserved 1/4 cup pasta water to loosen the sauce as needed. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly with the cheesy mixture.
- Serve Warm: Once everything is heated through and well combined, remove from heat and serve immediately for best taste and texture.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to help loosen the sauce and improve texture.
- Use low-fat cottage cheese to keep the dish light but still creamy.
- Freshly cracked black pepper enhances the flavor; adjust salt as needed depending on parmesan saltiness.
- Spinach can be substituted with kale or other leafy greens as preferred.
- For a richer sauce, substitute skim milk with 1% or 2% milk.
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Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/cheesy-protein-pasta-recipe/